Wofford’s Eric Breitenstein named Walter Payton Award finalist

The FCS version of the Heisman trophy, the Walter Payton Award, will be handed out at the 2012 FCS Awards Ceremony in Philadelphia on December 17. Wofford senior fullback Eric Breitenstein was named one of the three finalists for the award, along with Old Dominion sophomore quarterback Taylor Heinicke and Stony Brook senior running back Miguel Maysonet.

Breitenstein finished the regular season with 1,653 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns on 224 carries, and ranked third nationally in rush yards per game with 150.3. His Terriers finished the regular season with an 8-3 record and share of the SoCon title, and made it to the quarterfinals of the FCS before losing 14-7 to North Dakota State.

Heinicke leads the FCS with 4,158 passing yards and 35 touchdowns while running for 377 yards and 8 touchdowns. He burst onto the national scene in ODU’s victory over New Hamphire when he threw for 730 yards and had 791 total yards, both Division I records. Heinicke’s Monarchs were bounced from the FCS quarterfinals by Georgia Southern.

Maysonet ran for 1,881 yards (had 2,233 all-purpose yards) and had 23 touchdowns on the year. He led the FCS in rushing yards per game, averaging 156.5 per contest. Stony Brook lost in the second round of the FCS playoffs to Montana State.